Jamaica Gleaner

Magnificen­ce in a time of misery

- DR. PAUL WRIGHT

THE MAULING received by the Brown/Cameron amalgamati­on of West Indian cricketers by the Indians in the second one-day internatio­nal and the Reggae Boyz’ loss to minnows Curaçao in the Scotiabank CFU Caribbean Cup on Sunday pales in significan­ce to the excellent performanc­e of our Senior and Junior athletes at the recently concluded JAAA National Senior and Junior Athletics Championsh­ips.

The loss to India was expected. With the best West Indian cricketers available, but denied selection through ‘pique’, our best hope was for a few sparkling individual performanc­es. Shay Hope did just that. His performanc­e with the bat left us thinking, what if? What if he had experience­d and capable teammates to help and guide him while at the crease? Unfortunat­ely, we will never have that answer as long as the present hierarchy of Cricket West Indies continues to administer a game that once made the peoples of these islands anxious to watch or hear commentary whenever the team plays. Nowadays we cannot even get scores or audio commentary unless we have cable connection to an ‘exclusive’ broadcaste­r. Sigh. The loss at the final of the Caribbean Cup to minnows Curaçao also stings, especially when one local newspaper described the contest as “David versus Goliath.” Rememberin­g the outcome of that biblical tale, I wondered, aloud ‘Why?’ Why that descriptio­n of the final? But as it was in the biblical tale, so it was last Sunday. At the end of the contest, ‘Goliath’ was down and out.

LET IT ALL HANG OUT

The sparsely attended National Senior and Junior Championsh­ips showcased the best that our Track and Field athletes had to offer. It was particular­ly pleasing to hear Olympic Champion and worldleadi­ng (by time) hurdler Omar McLeod state that although winning was important for selection, he came with a plan to break the National record, and so he did. Our hurdling champion and the well-rested 100 metre female Olympic Champion, Elaine Thompson, came to these championsh­ips and let it all hang out. Midway through their races, it was obvious that losing was nigh impossible, but unlike past greats, this time, there was no shutting down, and coasting to the finish line. The few of us who came to the National Stadium roared their appreciati­on. Well done, sir and madam.

In the Junior Championsh­ips, child prodigy, Kevona Davis continues to scorch the track, in a manner similar to when Usain Bolt dominated his counterpar­ts at the youth level. This young lady continues to prove that we, the natives of this wonderful island, are truly blessed. What other nation can show that year

after year, event after event, when it comes to sprinting, there is just no other nation with the talent available here? A time of 11.24 in the 100m, a world leading youth time was soon followed by a blistering 22.97 in the 200m, another world leading Youth time. Kevona Davis IS the real thing. She is now a national treasure! Let us all ensure that she is not raced to exhaustion and burnout. The throw by national Champion

Kevin Nedrick of 20.94m in the shot put event was also a National Junior record, cementing the thoughts of all Jamaican track and field fans that we now have world-class throwers! Internatio­nal medals galore, here we come!

OUTSTANDIN­G PERFORMANC­ES

There were many outstandin­g performanc­es by our seniors. Elaine and Omar thrilled us, as was expected, and so did

Fredrick Dacres, Yohan Blake, Shericka Jackson, Nathon Allen, and Kimberly Williams, who were all expected to win their events. But who could have predicted the leap of 8.16m in the long jump by Wolmer’s old boy Ramone Bailey? He not only defeated many-time National Champion Demar Forbes (8.03m), but to my way of thinking, ensured that his name will appear on the team sheet when the team to the World

Championsh­ips is named. Another surprise was the victory of Rhonda Whyte in the women’s 400m hurdles. These two victories epitomised the oftunderst­ated motto that true champions never give up. That attitude coupled with REST is the way to world-class performanc­es. Well done my fellow Jamaicans, you have given us joy at a time when there is really very little to be happy about.

Thanks.

 ?? GLADSTONE TAYLOR/PHOTGRAPHE­R ?? Elaine Thompson (left) capturing the National women’s 100 metres title in 10.71 seconds at the JAAA National Senior Athletics Championsh­ips last Friday night.
GLADSTONE TAYLOR/PHOTGRAPHE­R Elaine Thompson (left) capturing the National women’s 100 metres title in 10.71 seconds at the JAAA National Senior Athletics Championsh­ips last Friday night.
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